· 4 September 2025, 18:30
**Some pundits love to peddle the idea that footballers will always choose to live in London over Newcastle when presented with a choice, and that's why Newcastle United often fail to attract players.**
The pundits who say that tend to be ones who get a nosebleed when they find themselves seeing signs for the M62.
It's a fallacy that has done the rounds for years and even caused Sky Sports Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling to go off on a very big rant aimed at Alan Brazil when the TalkSPORT host took a swipe at Newcastle.
However, the call of London was what ultimately led Joao Pedro to sign for Chelsea over Newcastle this summer.
Joao Pedro has enjoyed a bright start at Chelsea
Joao Pedro wanted to return to London
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Newcastle missed out on Joao Pedro once again, having failed to sign him from Watford before his move to Brighton, but having tasted the London life, the Brazilian was missing life in the Capital, and that's what ultimately made up his mind when deciding his future this summer, as he confirmed to [The Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-joao-pedro-exclusive-interview-b1245926.html).
> "When I was in Brighton, I was missing London a little bit.
>
> "I had a chance to move to another club, but I chose Chelsea because it's in London, it's a great club and I knew in my head it was the right move."
Joao Pedro's circumstances were very different, but we're sure that won't stop the rhetoric
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Joao Pedro's circumstances are clearly different to times when Newcastle have tried to sign players from outside of England, with him having already lived in London.
That's not likely to stop those pundits with the anti-Newcastle agenda from using this as an example to spout their "Everyone wants to live in London' rhetoric.
Joao Pedro's move to Chelsea has got off to a good start with the Brazilian finding the net on several occasions already.